MANILA, Philippines — Former top cop and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has a reminder for all gun holders: Don’t “sukbitize” your firearms.
The terms “sukbitize” and “bisayanic” were used by Dela Rosa on Tuesday while he was leading the Senate’s investigation on the viral road rage case involving a dismissed cop and a cyclist.
“Clear tayo sa lahat ng gun holders ngayon na ang Permit to Carry Firearm Outside of Residence (PTCFOR) does not authorize you to ‘sukbitize’ your firearm dito sa [tagiliran]. Dapat nakalagay sa loob ng clutch bag,” said Dela Rosa.
(Let’s make it clear to all gun holders: PTCFOR does not authorize you to place your firearm here on the side. It must be placed inside a clutch bag.)
Later into the hearing, Earl Bandiola, the son of cyclist Allan Bandiola, delivered a personal speech to express his feelings after the road rage case. Noting that Earl had a unique and clear manner of speaking, Senator Jinggoy Estrada started complimenting the teen.
Dela Rosa took this opportunity to jokingly scold his fellow lawmaker.
“Bakit mas maganda pa ang diction niya sa diction ko? Ikaw Senator Jinggoy ha, you are implying something ha. My diction is very bisayanic,” said Dela Rosa in jest.
(Why is his diction better than mine? Senator Jinggoy, you are implying something. My diction strongly sounds like a true Bisaya.)
“That’s just how life goes. I wasn’t able to study in private school, but anyway, I am a Senator now,” the lawmaker quipped in Filipino.
Dela Rosa then faced the media after the panel’s probe, and reporters asked the lawmaker about his choice of words during the hearing.
To this, Dela Rosa answered: That is my only way of expressing.
“Pasisikatin [niyo] na naman ‘yang word na ‘yan. That’s only my way of expressing. Hindi naman ako English teacher, hindi naman ako English professor. [Mamaya pagsasabihan niyo nanaman ako] for my poor usage of words,” Dela Rosa told reporters.
(You will make that word more popular. That’s only my way of expressing. I’m not an English teacher, I’m not an English professor. Later you will lecture me again for my poor usage of words.)
Dela Rosa earlier went viral after he was “misquoted” and “taken out of context” when he asked, during a separate hearing held in August, if Filipinos should bear more children to help lower the Philippine debt.
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